[pygtk] running pygtk application with root privileges

[Steve McClure]

On Sun, 2007-03-11 at 17:48 +0200, Miki wrote:
> Hi all,
> I'm building an application that needs to change configuration files
> in the /etc and in the /usr directories like the dhcp.conf file.
> Any user should be able to run this application but to changes those
> files root privileges is needed. 
> 
> How can I run pygtk application in root (setuid) mode or how can I ask
> the user to enter the root password (in the pygtk env.) and then run
> the application?

You can write a C wrapper that is setuid that calls the pygtk
application.  However, having the user enter the root password and
raising and lowering privilege would be better.  However, I don't know
how to do that, though I'm sure it's possible.

Gnome has a /usr/sbin/userhelper program that is used to raise privilege
when performing root level activities from a normal users desktop.

> 
> 
> Any idea?
> 
> Thanks,
> Miki
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-- 
Steve McClure                                   Racemi
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